Safety precautions could mitigate risks of holiday road trips

Ohio residents who plan on traveling over Thanksgiving may want to know more about the dangers of holiday road trips. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, roadway fatalities peak on Thanksgiving and drop only slightly over the winter. The most recent statistics available from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System indicate that the Thanksgiving holiday may be a deadly time to take to the road.

According to NHTSA, 764 fatal accidents were reported during Thanksgiving in 2012, and 654 deadly crashes reportedly occurred during Christmas that same year. The agency believes that in many of these cases, simple safety precautions could have saved lives. The data shows that approximately 60 percent of the people who were killed in these crashes had failed to buckle up. Drunk driving was a factor in at least 40 percent of the reported fatalities.

To mitigate the risks of holiday travel, the NHTSA advises motorists to check their tire pressure and test their windshield wipers before starting out. Drivers who want to enjoy a safer holiday should also wear seat belts and avoid driving under the influence as required by law.

Drivers in Ohio may be surprised to learn that one of our nation's happiest holidays is also its deadliest. During the holiday season, some motorists may suffer serious injuries in car accidents caused by reckless drivers. Under such circumstances, seriously injured individuals may find it beneficial to explore their options with a personal injury attorney. Depending on the facts of the case, the attorney might be able to negotiate a fair settlement with insurers. When negotiations fail to yield the desired result, the attorney could pursue justice in civil court.

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